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I don't speak any French (only English), so I am concerned with being able to purchase tickets, get on the right train and get off at the right stop :) How many stops are between St. Laurent du Var and Nice?

I've been told repeatedly not to drive into Nice proper and not to take a taxi because they are too expensive.

Most ticket sellers at French train stations speak English, so you will probably not have a problem in that respect. also many stations have automatic vending machines to purchase tickets. Just make sure you validate your ticket at one of the validators as you enter the platform (they are usually orange). Nice should be your second stop. You will know you are in Nice. It is a very large train station. As you exit the station take a left and walk a hundred yeards or so to Avenue Jean Medecin. Take a right and this will take you down the main street to Place Massena, from which you can reach the Promenade des Angalise or the pedestrian Rue Massena. In a well touristed area like this speaking no French will rarely if ever be an issue.

nice has a very large train station with many platforms. As you enter the station there is a large board with all departing trains and their times and platform numbers. There will be similar indicators on the actual platform. It's that simple. The French rail network is one of the best in the world and very easy to navigate.

The trains are quite frequent, about 2 an hour during the day, and the journey takes about 10 minutes. Fares will be lower if you avoid the morning rush hour. You will find the signposting quite straightforward. You will be able to pick up a timetable leaflet when you get to the station or click Horaires Seuls on www.voyages-sncf.com

There are also a number of buses you can get from St Laurent du Var to Nice: the 52 is the local one, then the buses that go from Nice to other major towns also pass through - the 400 on its way to Vence, the 217 on its way to Cagnes sur Mer, the 200 on its way to Cannes.

Its really 6 and half a dozen between train and bus from st lauraent du var because what you save in train journey time you will probably spend waiting for the train as there are so few compared with buses.

I'd base a decision on which mode of transport to choose depending on where you want to be when you get to Nice.